12 pounder Bronze cannon

[davec2]

I can't tell from the picture if the verdigris I am seeing is the result of anything as dramatic as "bronze disease". If it is just the natural accumulation of copper chloride or copper carbonate (think about the Statue of Liberty) it is actually protective and not destructive. However, if you want to remove the green part of the patina, just rub it with household vinegar (i.e. 5% acetic acid). If you want it to work even faster, dissolve a little table salt in the vinegar. Try it on a small spot on the underside of the gun to see if you like the result. Any time I have to clean old tarnished brass, copper or bronze, I wipe it down with vinegar first.....it makes any subsequent polishing much, much easier as it removes some of the copper carbonate / copper chloride and softens the rest.

Best of luck. Beautiful cannon.

 

[rafterob]

The Boy Scout Motto is "Be Prepared" we didn't need anyone to give us beer, we smuggled it in from dad's supply in the garage. Had to burn those cans real good in the fire so the label was burned off.